Explosive shells



' EXPLOSIVE'SHELLS Filed Dec. 8. 1949 IN VE NTOR; W/LL/ WE/ss,

ATTORNEY nite States EXPLOSHVE SHELLS Willi Weiss, Vernier par Geneva, Switzerland, assignor to Society lirevets Aero-Mecaniques, S. A., Geneva, Switzerland, a society of Switzeriand Application December 8, 1949, Serial No. 131,739

Claims priority, application Luxembourg October 11, 1949 2 Claims. (Cl. 1ti273) The present invention relates to explosive shells, this expression including all projectilescontaining a cnarge capable, when ignited by a device responsive to impact, of breaking the shell envelope into fragments due tothe violence of explosion; This charge may have incendiary characteristics and even consist of what is usually called an incendiary charge provided that it has, at least in an attenuated form, an explosive character.

The object of my invention is to provide a shell of this kind which is better adapted to meet the requirements of practice than those existing at the present time.

According to my invention, this shell, constituted by at least two elements disposed one behind the other and each arranged to explode under the effect of its own impact operated igniting means, is arranged in such manner that the presence of the front element makes inoperative the means for igniting the rear element, whereby the projectile can explode in two steps, when striking two successive obstacles, whatever be the respective sensitivities of the igniting means of the two elements.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention w1ll be hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, given merely by way of example and in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view with portions in section and portions cut away, of a small caliber explosive shell made according to my invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the elements of this shell.

This projectile is essentially constituted by at least two elements 1 and 2, disposed in tandem-like fashion and including each an explosive charge 3, 4, such as above defined.

I provide, for the front element, impact responsive igniting means constituted for instance by a priming point, contained in a cap 5, capable of producing, or at least of facilitating, when impact takes place, ignition of a relay charge 6 which then ensures ignition of the explosive charge 3.

As for the rear element, it is provided with igniting means arranged in such manner as to be capable of acting only after destruction of the front element.

It will be understood that the front portion of such a projectile will explode upon contact with a first obstacle (the less resistant as the sensitiveness of the igniting means is higher). The rear portion 4 of the projectile will then proceed upon its course and, as its igniting means have been made operative by the destruction of the front portion, this rear portion will in turn explode upon contact with a second obstacle if it strikes one. In this case also, if the sensitiveness of the igniting means of the rear portion is sufiiciently high, explosion can take place upon impact on an obstacle of very low resistance, such as a mere sheet of a light metal.

Such a projectile will be capable of producing explosive and/ or incendiary effects upon contact with two obstacles struck successively and this without it being necessary, as

2 with certain projectiles already known, of having the second obstacle more resistant than the first one.

In order to ensure self destruction of such a projectile, it will sufiice, as a rule, to provide self-destroying means only in the rear portion of the projectile by arranging the latter in such manner that destruction of the rear portion causes destruction of the front portion if this front portion has not already exploded. However, it will be possible to provide independent self-destruction means for each of the two portions.

Such a projectile may, for instance, be made as illustrated by the drawing.

The front element is constituted by an ogive-shaped steel nose, which contains explosive charge 3 and carries, fixed to its front end, igniting means enclosed in cap 5. Preferably this cap is made in such manner as to break into fragments when the front portion explodes. For this purpose, for instance, cap 5 is provided with grooves, such as 7, which create lines of lesser resistance along which the matter of the cap will break. Thus, I avoid the risk of cap 5, after explosion of the front portion, proceeding upon its course so as to form through the second obstacle a hole through which the rear portion of the shell could pass without exploding.

The rear element is constituted by a body, for instance of stamped steel which carries, fixed to its front end, a fuse 8 with its relay 9 and is filled with explosive charge 4.

Fuse 8 is arranged to produce ignition by impact of its front end 10 on an obstacle. For this purpose, I provide for instance, at this end, a bore 11, possibly closed by a light disc, in which is housed the end of a sliding rod 12 capable of achieving a percussion action when this end strikes an obstacle.

According to my invention, I provide, ahead of end 10, a screen 13 adapted to retract when the shell front portion explodes. For instance, such a screen may consist of a disc having a lateral weight dissymmetry or it may be constituted, as illustrated (see in particular Fig. 2) by two portions assembled along faces forming a kind of 2. Thus, when the shell front portion explodes, in the first case the disc is projected radially by the effect of centrifugal force upon its weight dissymmetry, whereas, in second case, the two portions of the screen, having their respective centers of gravity located on opposite sides of the axis of the projectile, are also projected radially. Anyway, the bore 11 of the front end 10 of the fuse will be uncovered, which will expose the end of rod 12 directly to any subsequent impact.

In order to assemble together the front and rear portions, the first one is for instance engaged on the body of the fuse 8, screen 13 being held between the front charge 3 and a spacing sleeve 14 which surrounds the front of fuse 8.

Said fuse will include the usual self destruction means and a conduit 15 connecting the housings of the front and rear charges, will ensure simultaneous explosion of these two charges when the self destruction means enter into play.

Of course, all precautions will be taken so that the explosion of the front portion is not transmitted to the rear charge through said channel 15. For this purpose, for instance, a plug 16 will normally stop said conduit 15, which plug cannot be expelled toward the rear in order to clear conduit 15 when the front portion explodes, but can, on the contrary, be driven toward the front under the effect of the explosion of the rear charge, whereby the front charge is then caused to explode in turn.

In a general manner, while I have, in the above description, disclosed what I deem to be practical and efii understood-that I do not wish to be limited thereto as therernight be changes made in the arrangement, disposition' and form of the parts without departing from the principle of the present invention as comprehended within the scope of the accompanying claims.

' What I claim is; V

1. An explosive shell including two elements arranged in tandem-like fashion, a; charge provided in each of said elements, independent impact responsive means for igniting each of said charges, respectively, means for positively protecting the igniting means of said'rear element against impact, holding meanscarried by the shell and adapted to be destroyed by the explosion ofthe front element for keeping said protecting-means operative as long as said front element is. present,,said protecting means being biased to become inoperative upon destruction of said holding means and independently .ofthe Working of'rsaid rear element igniting means; afuze carried by the rear element, said fuze comprising both the impact responsive igniting means of said rear element and automatic de-' struction igniting means, a conduit connecting the charge of the front element with that of the rear element, and a check-valve-like plug in; said conduit openingtoward the front element. 7 V t 2. An-explosive shell' including two elements arranged in tandem-like fashion, a charge provided in each of'said elements, independent impact responsive means for ignit ing each of said charges, respectively, the igniting means of the rear element including a direct percussion responsive firing pin, screen means ahead of said firing pin for positively-shielding said firing pin against thrust from the front, holding means carried by the shell for keeping said a screen means operative as long as said front element is present, said screen means being retractable in response to action of the centrifugal force, whereby said screen means can be retracted, under'the efiect of the rotary motion of the shell; only after the front element has been Y destroyed by explosion, a fuze carried by the rear element, said fuze1 comprising both the impact responsive igniting means of said rear element and automatic destruction igniting. means, a conduit connecting the charge of the front element with that of the rear element, and a checkvalve-like plug in said conduit opening toward the front element. 7

' References Citedin the file of this patent :UNITED STATES PATENTS 

